Tribe Come Within Inches Again

For the third night in a row, the Indians were down by one run in the bottom of the last inning with at least one runner on base -- and couldn't capitalize. In addition, it was Pedro Ciriaco who was the last man to bat in each game. That's not to place the blame for the losses on Ciriaco -- other players had also had opportunities to drive in runs and were not able too. It's just an odd coincidence that Ciriaco ended the three games with a grounder into a double play, a ground out, and tonight a pop out.

Like in the first two games, the Clippers were first onto the scoreboard. Indians' starter Justin Wilson (photo) retired the first 8 batters he faced, including 5 strikeouts, with 4 of those in a row. He struck out the side in the 2nd inning, then struck out the first batter of the 3rd inning. Like the first two games, this game featured a diving catch of a low line drive by the Indians' shortstop. In the first two games, that shortstop was Ciriaco; tonight it was Chase d'Arnaud, who recorded the second out in the 3rd inning. The Clipper's ninth batter, RF Jerad Head, then rocketed Wilson's 2-1 pitch over the wall in right-center field for a solo homer. Wilson then walked the next batter, CF Ezequiel Carrera, who promptly stole second base on the first pitch to the SS Cord Phelps. Phelps slipped a grounder up the middle, just out of reach of d'Arnaud, and Carrera came around to score from second. A walk to 3B Lonnie Chisenhall prompted a visit by pitching coach Tom Filer (photo above). After catching his breath, Wilson got a fly out to end the inning.

Wilson also had to work around base runners in the 4th inning. After another strikeout, Wilson gave up an infield single to 1B Jordan Brown. Brown grounded back to the mound, and the ball tipped off Wilson's glove and over towards short. SS d'Arnaud had to change his direction, but he got to the ball and made a rushed throw to first. The throw pulled 1B Matt Hague off base, though it appeared that Brown might have beat the ball to the bag anyway. DH Wes Hodges also tapped back to the mound, where Wilson whirled and threw to second, forcing out Brown. But 2B Brian Friday's throw on to first went wide, and Hodges was safe. C Paul Phillip walked, but then Head grounded to short, and the inning ended on the force out at second base.

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